CEREAL PRODUCTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20307, 15 July 1929, Page 14

CEREAL PRODUCTION.

HEAVY CROP OF WHEAT.

TOTAL OF 8,818,756 BUSHELS

Interim returns of tho principal crops in tho 1928-29 season liavo been published by tho Government Statistician. The yield of wheat from 255,000 acres was 8,818,756 bushels, as against 9,541,444 bushels from 261,000 acres the previous season. The latter was an exceptional record, for with tho exception of the abnormal production of 10,565,000 in 1922, there had not beon a 9,000,000 bushels harvest since 1905.

The 1929 production compares favourably with tho average for tho preceding five seasons, which is 6,347,000 bushels. The bulk of tho wheat is produced in Canterbury, Otago and Southland, their harvests totalling 7,511.000 bushels from 245,000 acres, as against, 9,300,845 busliles from 255,000 acres in 1928. It is, however, interesting to note that the small' areas devoted to wheat in tho North Island and in the northern part of tho South Island (Nelson and Marlborough land districts) were greater this year than last'. The total was 10,297 acres from which 308.000 bushels were, harvester!, as against 7877 acres and 240,000 bushels in 1928.

Estimates of oilier crops arc as follows, the final figures for 1928 being given in parentheses:—Oats, 3,062,559 bushels (3,852,687 bushels); oaten chaff, 194,643 tons (201/137 tons); barley, 780.721 bushels (861,985 bushels; maize, 456.239 bushels (482,928 bushels); ryegrass, perennial, 8,929,1681b (9,389,7431b); western wolths, 2,342,0501b (1,278,5051b); cocksfoot, 2,048.5921b (1,992,3771b). The area sown in turnips and mangolds was 486.640 acres, as against- 470,033 acres in (he previous season.